been flattened.

New Testament Church of God Miracle Temple had its plans to build a second-storey multi-purpose room rejected by the Development Applications Board.

The church hoped to use the extra space to house a Sunday school for 64 children, to hold meetings for 132 people, and to have dining functions for 50 people.

The Board dismissed the plans on the grounds that the facility had insufficient parking and that the "overall appearance and visual impact (would be) detrimental to the surrounding area''.

Similar Planning applications have also been rejected in the past.

A letter written by the S & K Architectural Services to the Planning Department in June argued that the facility met the parking requirement for religious facilities, having more than the minimum requirement of one car space and one cycle space per ten seats.

It was explained that the church already had seating capacity for 190 with 24 car and 23 cycle spaces.

However, the DAB felt the parking space would not be sufficient if a new storey was added.

"It appears that there is insufficient parking for the congregation who are forced to park across North Shore Road,'' they noted.

They also said "a facility designed for children should have adequate and safe parking and access''.

In addition to its qualms with the available parking space, the Board felt the plans for the second storey were not visually acceptable as the church is situated on the road side.

Minister at the church Rev. Dorothy Tuzo referred inquiries to the architects who could not be reached for comment.